New Fiber Route to Power AI in Central US
Light Source Communications (LSC) announced a new 500-mile long-haul dark fiber route connecting St. Louis, Missouri, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The route is designed to support the growing infrastructure demands of AI and features a hyperscale tenant.
- The 500-mile route will be constructed entirely underground to enhance network security and reliability, a key consideration for AI-related data transmission. - To maintain signal strength and prevent degradation over the long-haul distance, the network design incorporates eight in-line amplifiers (ILAs). - This new corridor will connect directly to LSC's existing 130-mile dark fiber metro ring in the Tulsa area, which is also undergoing an 80-mile expansion. - The project is part of a larger LSC strategy to expand its dark fiber networks in key U.S. markets, with other active projects in Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. - Dark fiber is considered a crucial element for the AI era because it provides the high bandwidth, low latency, and scalability required for GPU-powered workloads and deep learning models. - The global dark fiber network market was valued at USD 6.25 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 13.4 billion by 2030, reflecting its strategic importance for digital transformation. - The St. Louis and Tulsa regions are growing tech hubs with multiple data centers, including those operated by major tech companies, making them logical endpoints for a high-capacity fiber route. - The term "dark fiber" refers to unused fiber optic cables that can be leased by companies to create their own private, high-capacity networks, offering more control and flexibility than traditional lit fiber services.
